Quote:
Originally posted by flyfirefly
I'm in college. Not that the above had anything to do with anything, but yeah, I was in the top 10% of my graduating class, got distinguished honors, et al. I was in various organizations, and after filling out about half a million scholarship applications was consequently denied all of them. I got into an Ivy League school but couldn't go because the government wasn't providing me with enough money ...
But, yeah I guess everyone does have an equal opportunity to go to college and better themselves (should that be their goal), but I had a 14% tuition raise last year, and a 16.5% one this year. That's fair enough for everyone.
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Look at the first half of that quote. How can you follow that with your "equal opportunity" statement? No such thing. While most of us may have an opportunity to go to college, it sure as hell ain't equal. And once you get out, it gets even harder for some.
OK, I had a similar situation. I was in the top 5 percent of my HS class, which was fairly sizable. I applied to two schools. I never liked to mess around. Two was enough, and I knew I'd be accepted at both. I was. One was waaaaay too expensive, and even with financial aid, I would have been saddled with a bigger debt than I would have wanted. The second one was just right. And you know something? I don't really think I gave up anything from an education standpoint. Of course, it would have been cool to hang out in Boston through my college career, but as it happened, I spent four years in beautiful Western Massaschusetts.
Years later, I took Mrs. Carne to an event up there. A bunch of my professors were there, and we caught up on things. On the way back, Mrs. Carne said: "Wow, you had such a great experience in college. Your professors really seem to care about the students. I wish I'd gone there." Or something to that effect.
I'm not sure I would have gotten that kind of care at the other school. And mind you, I went to a 20,000-student school. So I learned as much, if not more, outside the classroom as inside.
And here's the point I've been working toward: When I was working in dailies, I wanted to make the jump to a large metro paper. I was passed up several times. But I saw folks who had less experience than I apply and get into big-name papers. The difference? (OK, one could always argue they were better, but I know damn well I was just as good or better.) They had degrees from Columbia, Harvard, etc.
So is it equal? No. Eventually I had to adjust my career path. I ended up making a lot more money as a journalist than I thought was possible when you're not on TV. The bust of a couple of years ago mandated another adjustment. Now my career is only so important. Other things have taken priority: my family and a couple of hobbies that allow me to exercize the kind of creativity I can't at work.
It worked out. And I am not complaining. No way. But please don't tell me it's an equal situation for us all.
By the way, I agree that not everyone should go to college. I've spent quite a bit of time over the past week painting and redecorating a certain room in the house. Boy, has that been fun. Sweaty, but fun. It's nice to work with your hands and doing it over until you get it right.